I. ˈvāg intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English (Scots) vagen, from Middle French vaguer, from Latin vagari — more at vagary
archaic : wander , roam
II. adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin vagus wandering, unsettled, uncertain, vague — more at vagary
1.
a. : not clearly expressed : stated in general or indefinite terms
sign a very vague treaty of friendship — William Clark
vague chatter about the higher things — D.W.Brogan
distrust of vague beliefs in social service — M.R.Cohen
b. : not having an exact or precise meaning
a vague term of abuse for any style that is bad — T.S.Eliot
statement … is so vague as to be really meaningless — Havelock Ellis
2.
a. : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct
owed only vague allegiance to some overlord — Roger Burlingame
knows … in a vague way what he wants from a book — Bliss Perry
a vague idea of the existence of an all-powerful spirit — P.T.Etherton
b. : not clearly or sharply felt or sensed : somewhat subconscious
a vague longing for common deliverance — J.R.Green
the vague unrest of a husband whose infidelities are imaginary — Ellen Glasgow
a vague desire for change — Will Irwin
3. : not thinking or expressing one's thoughts clearly or precisely : characterized by looseness or haziness of thought or expression
was very vague about when he could see her again — Irwin Shaw
somewhat vague but possessing her own peculiarly feminine brand of common sense — C.V.Woodward
kept no diary … was vague about dates — Valentine Williams
4. : lacking expression : vacant
danced along with vague regardless eyes — John Keats
5. : not sharply outlined : dim or indistinct in form or character : shadowy , hazy
met by vague figures with shaded torchlights — Earle Birney
the pattern is vague and indecisive — A.N.Whitehead
the vague world of sleep — Edmund Wilson
Synonyms: see obscure
III. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : an indefinite or unsettled state — often used in the phrase in the vague
plans are still in the vague — Jane W. Carlyle
b. : a haze of thoughts or sensations
am wondering in a vast vague about her — Thomas Wolfe
2. : an indefinite expanse
the gray vague of unsympathizing sea — J.R.Lowell
IV. adverb
: vaguely — usually used in combination
vague -shining